Magnus Hirschfeld Memorial Stele

About

Journey back to the birth of the global LGBTQ+ movement at the Magnus Hirschfeld Memorial Stele in Berlin. Located at Otto-Suhr-Allee 93 in the Charlottenburg district, this historic marker is an essential stop on any traveler's gay map. It commemorates the exact site where, on May 15, 1897, the pioneering sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld and his colleagues founded the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee (WHK)—the world’s very first organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of gay men and the broader queer community. This memorial serves as an outdoor museum experience, inviting visitors to reflect on the early fight against Paragraph 175 and the groundbreaking work that defined modern sexual science. Hirschfeld’s motto, "Justice through Science," remains a guiding light for the global movement, and this stele honors the apartment where that vision first took shape. For those exploring Berlin’s rich queer heritage, the Magnus Hirschfeld Memorial Stele offers a profound moment of connection to the activists who paved the way. It’s a powerful tribute to the courage of our predecessors and a reminder of Berlin's role as the cradle of queer emancipation. Add this landmark to your Pride Nav itinerary to honor the roots of the struggle for equality.